First-time buyers could owe more than their house is worth

Many first-home buyers who bought with a 5 per cent deposit during the past year are likely to be in ‘negative equity’, cutting their options for refinancing and potentially leaving them stranded on excessively high interest rates.

Negative equity is where a borrower owes more to their lender than their property is worth. Banks consider borrowers with negative equity to be particularly risky. If the borrower was to default on their loan, the lender would not be able to recoup the money it is owed.

Borrowers with negative equity are also less likely to be able to refinance with another lender at a more competitive mortgage interest rate.

Martin North, founder of Digital Finance Analytics, says interest rates could stay higher for longer, making it even harder for recent first-home buyers  Credit:iStock

One-in-seven first-home buyers took advantage of the federal government’s low deposit scheme in the 12 months to June 30 this year – up from about one in ten during 2021-22.

Under the scheme, first-home buyers can get a mortgage with a deposit of only 5 per cent, allowing them to get a foothold in the property market earlier than if they had to save for a larger deposit.

The maximum purchase price under the scheme for 2021-22 was $800,000 for Sydney and $700,000 for Melbourne before the maximum was increased by $100,000 in each city from July 1 this year.

Figures from property researcher CoreLogic show some steep falls in prices of some popular local government areas (LGA) with first-home buyers.

Prices in the LGA of Essendon in Melbourne, for example, where the median price is $733,365, fell 10.6 per cent over the 12 months to October 31 this year. Prices are down 9.1 per cent in the LGA of Darebin North in Melbourne, where the median is $727,422.

But it’s not all bad news for recent first-home buyers in the southern capital. In Melbourne City, which is dominated by units and is popular with first-time buyers, prices are 10.3 per cent higher.

The bounce comes after prices fell heavily in the Melbourne City LGA during the early part of COVID-19, as borders closed and international students were no longer coming to Australia.

CoreLogic figures show prices in some lower-priced areas of Greater Sydney have not fallen by much.

Prices in Sydney’s LGA of Mount Druitt, where the median is $727,812, are down 2.4 per cent. Prices have eased 2.5 per cent in Sydney’s Richmond – Windsor, where the median is $792,804.

Those first-home buyers who took advantage of 2 per cent fixed interest rates and put down a 5 per deposit in 2021 will likely be rolling off to variable rates of 6 per cent or more when their fixed terms end.

Pete Wargent, co-founder of buyers’ agent BuyersBuyers, says the good news is that with full employment there is currently a job for effectively everyone who wants one.

“We also know that most Aussies will do whatever it takes to continue making mortgage repayments,” he says.

Some economists see a scenario where inflation could stop falling next year and interest rates could even be cut by the end of 2023, meaning lower variable-rate mortgages and those on fixed rates not facing such a big jump in repayments.

Martin North, founder of Digital Finance Analytics, says inflation could stay higher for longer. That may see the Reserve Bank stop increasing the cash rate but not cutting it, with higher mortgage rates to continue for some time.

He says that first-home buyers in negative equity who bought with a 5 per cent deposit and roll off fixed rates to much higher variable rates may not be able to refinance to a cheaper variable rate with another lender.

• Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. Investors should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making any financial decisions.

How to make, save and invest money

• Diversifying your investment portfolio, or just starting one, requires the first step. Jess Irvine and Dominic Powell show you how to set your goals and actually buy shares in the It All Adds Up podcast. IRL.
• When you separate from a partner emotions – and finances – almost always suffer. How do you protect your finances, and maybe even grow them, when you decide to go it alone?
• Can you really live without a credit card? Alex Kingsmill has never used one. This is how – and why – she lives credit card debt-free.

Most Viewed in Money

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article